OKOWA HAS BECOME A NIGHTMARE TO OPPONENTS

By Williams Eghebi 

The election campaign in Delta State especially Delta North, has become a chore with unmistakable prediction since Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa was confirmed the senatorial candidate of the APC. The duty of his opponents and their media handlers have become stereotype such that all motivation to read or listen to them has been completely eroded irrespective of their linguistic prowess.

They have become fixated on Okowa probably out of the obvious and imminent defeat ahead of them. They made Okowa a tenant in their minds instead of putting out their policies and programmes before the voting public. The energies required to advertise themselves to the electorate are used to dilute the venom Okowa's presence has created in their stomachs. And the former governor continues to walk happily on a crest while his hate mongers are tormented by bees in their troughs. 

The electorate need not be reminded that Senator Okowa established two universities in Delta North which increased the impetus for our people to push for higher education. In addition to the academic development of our people, the local economy has been enhanced through trading, job creation and commercial housing. Delta Northeners know that Okowa ensured that Asaba is not just a state capital but provided all the trappings required of the status through drainage control, state-of-the-art Secretariat, construction of link roads, upgrade of airport, development of recreation/amusement village and massive infrastructural makeover of the city's hospital. The Stephen Keshi Stadium became an arena for global sporting competitions. 

Senator Okowa has never claimed that he is impeccable or that there were not things he would have done differently. As a governor, he ensured that the entire state was his constituency though some of his vitriolic haters wished he had heaped all projects in Delta North. 

As a governor, what he did and did not do in terms of infrastructure and job creation was influenced hugely by paucity of funds. He inherited unpaid allowances and pension obligations, an unmotivated workforce and dysfunctional public utilities. To navigate the murky economic terrain, he held frank dialogue with labour leaders with a view to temporarily withholding certain check-offs. The labour leaders saw in him, a genuine and strong leader who was not afraid to confront challenges. We can recall how he was mockingly called 'Governor Eghoaria' which literally translates to a governor who was always claiming that the state was broke. He ensured frugality gave way for prudence. I recall a chance meeting with him. As he was reading a memo with financial implications, his eyes oscillated between the document and a calculator. The figures must be right! When the revenue figures improved, he settled all obligations and even raised the bar to exceed expectations. I recalled referring to him as the 'Road-Master' in article published in several reputable magazines and outlets in 2016. I remain the owner of that patent. 

While the former governor relishes his rise from secretary to local government through several layers of political positions until he became a governor with easy to access scorecards, his political opponents have become deflated like a colony of ants whose king is captured. The colony becomes rudderless and resort to stinging any enemy, real or imaginary. 

A candidate who observes a leaking canopy at his campaign grounds, points fingers to Senator Okowa. The other whose source of campaign funds ceases, attributes the donors action to Senator Okowa. While they are on this blame pathway, Okowa increases his reach to friends and foes; partisan and non-partisan rural dwellers; Christians and Moslems; the aged and youths; elites and artisans. He ensures his campaign has neither boundaries nor inhibitions. 

His message is clear: Send me to the Senate to regain lost glory and opportunities. 

Democracy listens to the minority but allows the majority to take charge. And we have resolved to return Okowa to the Senate in obedience to democracy.